Northern Italy, c. 1540.
Northern Italy, c. 1540.
Steel.
172 cm x 64 cm x 36 cm.
The suit of armour in the collection was manufactured in Italy around 1540. It would have been used in tournaments or battles fought on horseback. The armour is made of steel and also includes a tournament helmet, forged from a single piece. A holder for the kind of lance used in tournaments is bolted to the breastplate.
The armour is in startingly good condition: some parts have been restored but the breastplate and helmet, for example, are in their original shape. In quality, this suit of armour is comparable to those formerly worn by high-ranking noblemen, which are on display in Europe’s finest museums.
